Those of us with less knowledge of the colourful Latin American phraseology were checking the dictionary this week to find out exactly what Tata Martino had said to warrant a red card. Don Gerardo was reported by the referee for calling the Real Sociedad assistant coach “pelotudo” in the tunnel at half time, and it turns out that the word is Argentinian slang for “man with big hairy balls”! We think we get the idea! Later in the weekend Espanyol’s Mexican coach Javier Aguirre was also sent to the stands after picking up two bookings for protesting, although in his case we don’t know what was said. Aguirre does have a reputation for using bad language on the touchline though, a custom which has already cost him a red card earlier in the season, but this time the referee chose not to elaborate. Both managers have been given one match bans by the disciplinary committee.

Back on the field of play there were four more red cards this weekend, including one each for Betis players Perquis and Lolo Reyes either side of half time, both for second bookable offences. Getafe’s Lisandro López also got his marching orders for a second yellow card, as did Sevilla’s Iborra, who felt hard done by as he was leaving the field with an injury when he was booked for time wasting. All will be joined on the sidelines next weekend by six players who reached the five yellow card threshold, Alex López and Nolito (Celta), Héctor Moreno and Stuani (Espanyol), Murillo (Granada) and Dani Parejo (Valencia). (26.02.14)

(* suspension pending disciplinary meeting decision)

Villains Yellow cards Red cards (straight) Games banned Total points
Víctor Sánchez (Espanyol) 16 3 4 23
Gálvez (Rayo Vallecano) 12 1 3 16
Botía (Elche) 14 0 2 16
Cala (Sevilla) 9 2 (1) 3 15
Damián Suárez (Elche) 9 2 3 14
Borja (Getafe) 11 1 2 14
Sergio Sánchez (Málaga) 11 1 2 14
Saúl (Rayo Vallecano) 11 1 2 14
Diogo Figueiras (Sevilla) 6 1 (1) 5 13
Filipe Luis (Atlético) 7 2 (1) 3 13
M'Bia (Sevilla) 7 2 (1) 3 13
Amaya (Betis) 10 1 2 13
Nono (Betis) 10 1 2 13
Iborra (Sevilla) 10 1 2* 13
Coke (Sevilla) 7 1 (1) 3 12
Aduríz (Athletic Bilbao) 8 1 3 12
Iñigo Martínez (Real Soc) 8 1 3 12
Dubarbier (Almería) 9 1 2 12
Hugo Mallo (Celta) 9 1 2 12
Iturra (Granada) 9 1 2 12
Ricardo Costa (Valencia) 9 1 2 12
Dani Parejo (Valencia) 9 1 2* 12
Ebert (Valladolid) 9 1 2 12
Busquets (Barcelona) 11 0 1 12
Alexis (Getafe) 11 0 1 12
Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid) 11 0 1 12